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Alejo's Presto Trattoria Italia
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
4002 Lincoln BlvdMarina Del Rey, CA 90292
Neighborhood: Venice
(310) 822-0095
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 3 pm
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 3:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 3:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
255 reviews for Alejo's Presto Trattoria Italia
Review Highlights
-
"They don't serve alcohol but NO CORKAGE fee." In 26 reviews -
"absolutely LOVE their bread dipping garlic olive oil." In 28 reviews -
"The Italian chopped salad was excellent." In 27 reviews
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254 reviews in English
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Review from Allan A.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2012
I love this place!! Alejo's is awesome!!!
Its one of those great restaurants that I wish I frequent more often, like I did in the past.
My excuse? No car, and its way out there! And public transportation out here ain't all that great!
Anyway, each time I come here, the food and service is always consistent!
The portions are decent, although they've raised their price just a bit!!! I don't mind.
The place isn't that big! If you're driving, parking can be awful. And if you come during peak hours, you'd have to wait a while! But I think it's worth the wait, guest turn overs can be pretty quick at times, depending on how big your party is. The bread you're given comes with olive with garlic in it!! So tasty.
I usually get the same thing, starter...fried calamari, then...prawn or shrimp pasta!!!
So goooood!!!
I always leave satisfied!
There is no place in my area within a ten mile radius that can compare to this place!!
And oh...be careful when you go use their restroom, I almost ate shit at one point, 'cause it can get pretty slippery since you're walking into their storage/kitchen/office area.
PS: its a good place for a first date, or a significant others, or anyone, or alone, they don't have the most romantic atmosphere(according to society) but hey, I'm different!!...but please byob... lol! -
Review from Jenn L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/18/2012
Summary:
Parking - small lot with small spaces. avoid door dings and park on the street behind Alejo
Price - $12-15
Food - great, I liked my eggplant mama-mia
Portions - large
Service - great
Ambiance - not great, cafeteria-like, tiny place
BYOB - free corkage! :) :) :) GAAAREAT!
My experience:
I had no idea where my good guy friend was taking me so I had no expectations prior to coming here. But it's on his company dollars...so no complaints from me.
My initial reaction upon arrival was... this area is freaking ghe-tto..... I saw an empty cheap whisky bottle among other trash littered on the sidewalk as I stepped gingerly out of the car on the street behind Alejo where we parked. I clutched my purse tighter as we passed a group of shady looking/homeless people hanging out in the corner, and then witnessed a crazy looking guy totally fall off a bicycle while crossing the street cause he had stuff strapped onto it...
"Did I remember to lock my car?" was my friend's initial reaction as soon as we entered Alejo. He went out to double-check as I sat down near the back of the lackluster restaurant. This is not really a date spot...unless you plan to not score. The place is tiny. I mean, maybe 20 people would fill it to capacity. But, it did have the feel of a popular local good eats spot.
Our server was phenomenal. He was so attentive and professional, I almost forgot we were sitting in a cafeteria-like restaurant. Bread with a bowl of garlic in oil (really just canned garlic in oil) held us over until we got our food. We never saw the bottom of our ice water cups (with weird advertising on it).
I ordered the Eggplant Mama-Mia with a side of steamed veggies instead of pasta $15, and my friend had the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce ($12 + add mushrooms $1) Both were delicious, especially mine. It arrived piping hot and delicious.
Despite the lack of ambiance, I'd come back with some friends for the good food and fair prices. I'd definitely show up with bottles of wine next time too and take advantage of the free corkage! -
Review from Jmar G.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is ridiculously overrated! The food here was so unpleasant that I was actually depressed after leaving here. We had something else to get the taste out of our mouths.
I really think one of the major reasons for it's 4-star rating is for two reasons: the service or people haven't been around enough to know good vs. bad food.
I honestly would give this two stars for the service but one star says "Eek! Methinks not!" That is exactly how I feel whenever I think about this place.
My girlfriend loves garlic and hates this place. Everything we had was either overcooked, drenched in garlic, or tasteless. Worst of all, we paid $30+! We go out a couple of times a week and this place is easily one of the most expensive AND one of the worst.
Eek, methinks not? Indeed, definitely, never again. I'm depressed just thinking about it again.
Sorry, servers. We did appreciate your service. -
Review from Megan C.
Venice, CA
5/12/2012
This place is delicious!! Great pastas and great pizzas. My only wish it that they'd up the ambiance a little. Candles. Checkered table cloths. Lighting. The price isn't cheap enough for the cheap decor or as it is no decor. It's def not expensive and the portions are huge!
I also wish they delivered.
BYOB with no corking fee... Yes please. -
Review from Marion Z.
5/17/2012
This place is just chill. Sometimes you just want to enjoy a nice tasty dinner without the hype or price. This is the top stripmall italian spot on the westside ;) I know that sounds terrible but seriously worth a try. You can take in wine if you like. The portions are sizable and the dishes are yummy. I enjoy this little local spot.
-
Review from Teri B.
Pismo Beach, CA
4/25/2012
They catered my husbands hospitality suite for the CABB Board meeting. Amazing Paella, caprese salad and the clam & shrimp pizza was a huge hit. We order 12 different dishes and all were good, even the most basic cheese pizza.
The garlic bread was heaped with garlic- I loved it and no vampires will bother me for a long time.
Very Impressed with quality and variety. -
Review from Vic B.
Los Angeles, CA
4/23/2012
Close to, if not at, the top of my short list of favorite Italian restaurants. Marinara sauce is one of the best I've ever had.
Looks like a dive from the outside but the food is great! -
Review from Ethan G.
Culver City, CA
5/13/2012
If you like Italian food, not sure how this restaurant can get anything but 5 stars.
***Actually it is the standard by which all other Italian restaurants should be judged.
Beyond Fabulous: chopped salad, eggplant lasagna, plain old' spaghetti with homemade red or punk sauce, shrimp diablo (spicy), regular lasagna, chicken dishes, soup, ......actually almost anything and everything on the menu.
OMG, the garlic french bread and dipping oil is why food was invented....so what if you smell like it for day's.....everyone else will too!
Huge portions so you can have the remaining half for breakfast.
Prices reasonable and service charming and jovial.
Been happily going there for years.
Yum yum!
When you see every person and family with a full satisfied smile eating there, you will agree.....unless you're a prentious neuveau Venice snob who likes to pay big bucks to look cool eating tiny portions of under spiced food on an uncomfortable bench seat. -
Review from Ken S.
Venezia, CA
4/17/2012
I saw how many people already chimed in on this great restaurant, and I thought my words would only prove redundant. But then I read some negative reviews by cretins who complained that they were brought "too much free bread", or that the bowl the garlic in olive oil made her "breath stink for days". That's all it took for me to give Alejo's 5 Big Stars! I have to counteract the nimrods who are compulsive whiners.
I've loved this place for over a decade, and they always are friendly, prompt, and accurate with my orders. I'm a vegetarian and they accomodate any dish that I ask that meat be omitted. It's not fancy, but the food is better than a "fancy" joint. So if you're here for the food, you scored. If you're here to see and be seen, find that woman whose breath stinks for days. This is where you go when you're hungry and thirsty, and when you leave, there's a huge smile on your face. -
Review from Arizona T.
Mesa, AZ
3/29/2012
This was seriously some of the most watery and tasteless dishes we have ever had. 3 people, 3 dishes, 3 huge negative feedbacks.
Skip this place. Even Olive Garden is better. MUCH better actually. -
Review from Brett D.
Los Angeles, CA
3/23/2012
Taking the top spot on my list of "Things I Miss About Living In Mar Vista" is that I'm no longer walking distance from Alejo's!
The food is flavorful and plentiful. They don't kid around with the minced garlic in olive oil that they serve with the bread appetizer - Stinking Rose would be proud and it's fantastic. The prosciutto, olives and melon appetizer is another fave. I've had pastas up and down their menu and have yet to be disappointed. Plus, the portions are gigantic - I've got a rep as my group's human garbage disposal and I don't think I've ever walked out without lunch for the next day.
Of course, I couldn't do a review justice without mentioning...no corkage fee! It's the perfect place to go if you've got a big group and you're each armed with a bottle of wine. The staff is very accommodating and any patrons inside know that they've signed up for a boisterous experience before walking in the door.
Yes, the parking lot sucks...but you can park with zero problems on Del Rey Ave., a brisk 60 second walk from the front door.
A last quick word about the food, people...It's nestled between a donut shop and a 7-Eleven, so don't go in expecting some kind of Mario Batali-esque revelation. Kick back and appreciate a true diamond in the rough. -
Review from Eric L.
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Damn good Italian food in a crappy strip mall. I said it because its true.
My friends and I have been enjoying Alejo's for a number of years now as it offers very good Italian fare at great prices, and you can bring in your own wine without any corkage fees!
You are greeted by the ultimate appetizer in the form of bread and garlic with oil, I say this because you get a few dishes of freshly diced garlic in olive oil, vampires beware! For a garlic lover, this dish is refilled many times as you will find yourself dousing just about any part of your meal you so choose.
Personally I usually go for a personal pizza and gnocchi, which then winds up on the pizza for the best starch sandwich in the world. It sounds odd, is a mess to eat, but taste really good. I would opt and suggest pink sauce either way with the gnocchi. Other damn good dishes include the eggplant Mama-Mia, chicken Marsala, chopped salads and the tricolor pasta.
Save yourself the heart ache of using the parking lot and grab a spot on the street somewhere, brave the harrowing walk in and enjoy your meal. -
Review from Christina K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd actually give this place 2.5 stars, but rounded down for a couple of reasons.
Start with the bad news first:
-Red sauce was much too tangy and sweet. I overheard the coupe at the next table saying the exact same thing. When I eat pasta, I want savory. I couldn't eat much of it due to this fact.
-For 2 people they sure do waste a lot of bread. And the garlic butter was a big bowl of melted butter with a lot of garlic on the bottom. It was not a good idea to put that in such a deep bowl. And boy was I tasting garlic for 2 days!!! Reminded me of when I ate dinner with friends at Stinking Rose and we had the bright idea to go clubbing afterward...FAIL! Or should I say "pee-eww"!
Good stuff:
-The portions are humongous! Each order can easily feed 2-3 people. If you're going to do family style that'd be ideal-io.
-The caesar salad was rocking! First time trying anchovies on a salad and I liked it.
-The service was friendly.
-Plenty of tables when I visited, but I hear it gets crowded and they often have a line. Pretty small venue. Take out is popular at this location for this reason.
What I ate:
Fettuccine al Fungi (spinach fettuccini & mushrooms in marinara sauce). Again, just too tangy. Wasn't memorable. And I'm one who loves pasta on day 2 as leftovers. I left mine purposely at my friends house. bon appetite.
Friend had Chicken Parmigiana (lightly breaded, served with red sauce & mozzarella cheese). Sauce was still too tangy, but I enjoyed my bite of the chicken itself. Nice breading. Lots of cheese draping the top.
Parking: Kind of sucks ass. Small lot with tight spaces. Maybe holds 8-10 cars. You may need to park in a neighboring lot and walk a short distance if busy.
*Maybe I'd go back to try something else, but nothing with the red sauce. That's unfortunate. -
Review from Brent C.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was exactly what I was hoping for: a mom and pop Italian restaurant that takes just like home cooking. Italian food can be too fancy sometimes and while these fancy places often serve delicious Italian food, it's nice to just have the taste of home cooking. It felt like some Italian mom came into my kitchen and just put together some pasta and served it for dinner.
I had the spaghetti with sausage, onions, and peppers and my boyfriend had the gnocchi and both were just delicious. It was a hefty portion and I had enough for another meal for the next day. The only thing was the garlic olive oil was pretty damn garlicky. I still enjoyed it but I might have appreciated less garlic.
If you're not looking for anything fancy and just want some home cooked Italian food, this is definitely the place to be. -
Review from Joel G.
Marina del Rey, CA
2/14/2012
LOVE this spot. Super tiny but that's ok. Bring your own bottle of wine! Chicken parm is heavy but you will leave without an ounce of regret.
The first time I went the calamari was some of the best I've ever had, but trips since it hasn't matched up. Not sure what happened that first time.
You will leave stinking of garlic but completely satisfied. Just a hidden gem in Venice/MDR. -
Review from Alex B.
Santa Monica, CA
3/28/2012
The pizza and pasta here are both good
The pizza was a little bland and didn't stand out
The dough was not the best
The pasta had a little too much sauce
Olive oil dip for the bread was good
Overall its an okay choice but you can find better -
Review from Angela H.
Los Angeles, CA
2/28/2012
Alejo's is awesome for a few reasons:
-the service is consistently great - polite, quick and thorough
-the price is great
-the food is amazing, consistently great. I've never had a bad thing here and no one I've been with has had a bad thing here and we've sampled a lot!
My personal favorite is the gnocci and I cannot go without the bread and garlic. You'll eat so much it'll come out of your pores, but you won't be able to resist. :)
By the way - this review fits both locations on Lincoln - they're both great! -
Review from Anne L.
Gilbert, AZ
3/19/2012
This place is horribly overrated! Soupy and tasteless Italian food prepared by Mexicans who have no idea how to prepare Italian food.
Bad, bad, bad! -
Review from Eric L.
Los Angeles, CA
AMAZING. Go for the chopped salad and shrimp al diablo. Expect to leave with garlic breath. And if your girlfriend leaves her purse, expect the bus boy to come chasing you down the street to give it back.
Do yourself a favor and eat dinner at Alejo's. -
Review from Andrea W.
2/15/2012
AMAZING pizza. One of the best pizza places i've ever had the pleasure of knowing. perfect crust, sauce, cheese, and can add almost any topping you want. Toppings we love: sausage, mushroom, onion, peppers. The bread they serve everyone is also delicious, with olive oil and chunks of garlic. Between the two of us we usually get a medium-large pizza and have some leftovers to take home. Everything time we go, there are lots of people getting pasta and really enjoying it. We had linguine with pink sauce and seafood and it was alright. Honestly, the pizza is the way to go!
-
Review from ken h.
Los Angeles, CA
4/23/2012
seafood pasta & bread with garlic oil is awsome!!
had the carbonara today & was spot on -
Review from Helen C.
9/22/2011
NO CORKAGE!!! Woohoo! Okay, so I sound a little too much like a drunkard given my level of enthusiasm for their lack of corkage but c'mon, aren't you tired of going to restaurants that sell $7 bottles of wine for $20-30 buckaroos or punish you for bringing your own vino by charging you $15 bucks for their 10 second effort of opening your bottle? Because I am.
Valentino's it ain't, but if you're looking for massive portions of very solid Americanized Italian food (think heaping mounds of spaghetti with meatballs or veal parm with a side of pasta the size of a child's head) that's cheap and allows you to bring your own wine, then this is your place. As soon as you sit down, they bring out a large basket of bread and a mound of garlic sitting in olive oil. It's strong, no doubt, but tasty. The parm with a side of pasta was a mound of fried tastiness and the pasta's pretty close to al dente. The ravioli alla checca was the only disappointing dish we had (just a little bland).
I didn't have issues with the wait staff as other reviewers mentioned as our servers were fast, efficient, and friendly. Definitely a place to return for low key weekday dinners. -
Review from Karl F.
West Covina, CA
11/4/2011
I'm normally not a huge fan of Italian food [except pizza] Ate at Alejo's after an event in the area and this place is great!. Family style independant restaurant, great portions, good service!
Started off with fresh bread and garlic/olive oil dipping suace, this stuff is awesome! I ordered "Eggplant Mama Mia" which is eggplant parm with chicken sandwhiched in between. tooped with Mozzerlla and sauce, it was GREAT!
I would def go here again -
Review from abigail K.
Los Angeles, CA
8/24/2011
This place is pricey and small. REALLY SMALL. Like tables and chairs crammed together small. Which I have to seriously consider before going back. I just dont enjoy moving my foot and kicking someone or rubbing elbows with the person (stranger) next to me. REALLY CRAMMED.
The food is home-made, homestyle italian food that is delicous that is why they get the 4 stars. I want to go back but the spacing, gees, that is really something to think about.
The garlic oil is strong, watch the breath. BUT NO COMPLAINT, really good.
From the outside you could really under-estimate the place. Looks like a random, nothing special place, you wouldnt think it would be this good.
The parking is horrible. its in a 7eleven lot. there has to be no more than 15 parking spots there and not for the restaurant only for 7eleven, dry cleaners and a chinese joint. So can be a BIG challenge to find a spot.
However the street over usually you could find something if youre lucky.
The service is great, as you walk in even the cooks look over and smile, everyone greets you. Everyone is usually always in a good mood here.
We will see if I return, not sure maybe ill get over this space issue. -
Review from Paul V.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good Food.
As others have noted the place is small, we picked it out actually because it looked like such a hole in the wall we figured it'd probably be cheap too.
Wrong.
That's the only thing that does bring the score down just a tad. I'd of easily given this place a 4 on food alone but for the price? Ahhh... Gotta do a little bit better. Now the food is fine, it's the prices that need work, they're too high for the food being what it is and the restaurant being what it is.
I love eating at hole in the walls, I love cheap food, I just don't like it when it's overpriced. I didn't like, regret eating here or anything, but I really doubt I'd ever come back simply because... There's just not really a point.
Since it's a drive for me, if I wanted to, I could drive the other direction, get a chicken parmesan from Tutto Fresco that also comes with a caesar salad, and I'd still be saving a good $7 per plate.
Now the portions here are fantastic, I don't think I was even able to eat half of my food before I took it home, so you do get a lot of food for the money you spend. Italian food makes the best leftovers. That said, don't get this food to go. Why not? Because there's too much value dining in. Why? The bread.
The bread is fantastic, or more specificly, the dipping oil with the garlic in it is. I usually only go for basalmic, which I did here too (And they had it), but that garlicy olive oil was just too tempting to not use too. Fantastic! If anything at all about this restaurant will pull me back, it's that.
If I was in the area and hungry I might go inside but this is sadly one of those places I'd like to enjoy, but just don't have the budget to spend the extra money consistantly.
Great service though. -
Review from Tommy L.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2011
I've only been here twice--when I have to pick up or drop off someone to LAX. And both times I enjoyed my food a lot. Parking is hard to find because its on a busy street but if you go into residential a little bit, its not that difficult. The restaurant itself has a very homey feeling. The first time I went it was around 7pm and there was a wait. The second time I went around 5:30pm and it was not as packed.
The bread they serve is SOO yummy. Seriously I can get full off the bread and not order anything else haha. Both times, I ordered the spaghetti carbonara. Its sooo good. I normally don't like marina sauce in my pasta but they made it soo goood. I repeat sooo goood. The portions are rather large too.
I will definitely come back again. Well whenever I need to drop off someone I hate or pick up someone I love. :). -
Review from Gina N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/23/2012
Loved this place! Huge portions, tons of taste and easy on the wallet. It's definitely authentic home style cooking that will make you feel guilty and happy all at the same time. We ordered the lasagna, spinach ravioli and pepperoni pizza to share among the 4 of us. We pretty much licked the plates. The lasagna was hearty and had a lot of sauce and cheese without the oil and grease. The spinach ravioli was simple and light, but tasty. I didn't have a slice pizza but everyone else seemed to like it.
We didn't even mind that they don't serve alcohol. But next time we'll make sure to bring a bottle of wine. All of the regulars already knew to show up with their own bottle =)
Don't walk in expecting a fancy, highly decorated restaurant. This is not that kind of place. Its teeny tiny and feels like you're sitting in an old school kitchen. There was something very comforting and inviting about the setting, it has real character. You'll probably have to wait a minute for a table and the parking SUCKS! But it's definitely worth it. -
Review from Sarah M.
This is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants. So authentic, so delicious. I love their bread and garlic/olive oil combo. The chicken picatta is so damn amazing, it's what I've come to get every time after having tried it.
This location lets you bring your own bottle of wine, no corking fee.. very cool! The staff is really nice and attentive. You get your food pretty quick which is good too, because once you go in and smell the Italian food you get very hungry, lol.
Communal tables and tables off to the side in the restaurant.. nice atmosphere. Small little place, but it works. Wesley Snipes sat at the table behind me when I was eating there a few years back. I definitely recommend it! -
Review from Hernano L.
Marina del Rey, CA
8/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Alejo's Trattoria is cheap and bad.
Worst pizza ever and pasta float in cheap oil (you'll see it when you cook your food) -
Review from Jessica A.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2011
Alejos is one of my favorite restaurants in LA. I have always been a fan of the hole in the wall mom and pop type places over the typical food chain restaurants. Although i wouldn't consider it a hole in the wall because it's pretty big, although the parking lot isn't, at the same time, it's LA what do you expect. If you are lucky you can find street parking. If you are a LMU college student it is so close that a bike ride or walk wouldn't hurt.
I use to come here all the time before moving. And once I moved back I made sure to make my frequent stops or if I didn't want to dine in I would just order take out.
On to the food, I recommend everyone try the chopped salad (as an appetizer). The salad is fresh and the homemade dressing is yummy, taste even better if you add chicken. Please be advised that a whole salad is probably equivalent to an entire meal. I brought my mother here for her birthday and we split the chopped salad as our appetizer and then ordered our main dishes. Another appetizer I would highly recommend is the calamari. For the main dishes, I am a big fan of the chicken picatta, taste very homemade and was well seasoned. I once tried the lasagna and it wasn't my favorite, but it will not stop me from trying something new the next time I'm there. To complete the meal try the tiramisu. Most of the plates can be shared, if not you will definitely have leftovers. -
Review from Emily S.
1/27/2011 6 Check-ins Here
I don't really like Italian food. It's probably my least favorite cuisine. Too much noodles. Everything just tastes the same.
Alejo's though.. is on a whole other level. When you go there, definitely get their Chopped Salad. It's delicious. It's like cotton candy in your mouth. Not because it's sweet, because it's not. It's just because it's chopped so well that you don't even have to chew it. There are tiny pieces of cheese, lettuce, garbanzo beans, and other stuff in it.
Their pasta dishes are average. The bread they bring out... and their garlic dish are like the lays potato chip. You can't eat just one.
Also, you can bring your own wine here. No corkage fee.
Parking: There's street parking in the back... or there's a small parking lot in front. Horrible to get in and out of during peak hours. -
Review from Adam B.
Marina del Rey, CA
1/14/2012
A pizza place without deliver that's, so unAmerican.
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Review from Maxwell G.
Santa Monica, CA
1/14/2012
AWESOME!! My wife and I have been going here for the last ten years, and we love it. Eddie the owner is great, and the staff is amazing. The food is low cost and delicious, huge amounts of garlic and its bring your own wine!! I love the pizzas extra crispy and the salad dressing is comparable to the Galley's in Santa Monica! Viva Alejo's!!!
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Review from Celine P.
Loma Linda, CA
7/31/2011
After picking me up from the LAX, my aunt took me to this place. She was raving about it while driving. She said she used to go to this place 10 years ago and it was just awesome.
Parking is really tight. Its a good thing I wasn't driving cause I would have been really stressed out. This place is a hole-in-a-wall type of place. Small, but packed. So i figured it must be REALLY good.
Bread in the garlic oil was good. I probably had 3-4pieces before my meal. lol. but it was just as good as any other italian restaurant that serves bread with garlic oil. Come to think of it, I prefer Stinking Rose's a LOT better. I digress.. I was craving shrimp at the time so I got the Linguine Pescatore. My aunt got the eggplant parmesan. We also got the italian chopped salad.
The salad was meh. It reminded me of coleslaw but with a more subtle dressing.
There were about 5 pieces of shrimp in my plate. Thats it. And while they were really flavorful (the shrimp nicely took in the flavors), the calamari that came with it was bleh. I've never tried clam before, and the clam in my dish was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.
The eggplant parmesan, however, was really good. It's almost as good as mine:)
Overall, this place was okay. It wouldnt be a first.. or second.. or 5th choice for italian food, but I wouldn't mind coming back here. (auntie, if you're reading this. sorry, i just didnt like it as much as you did) -
Review from J C.
Marina del Rey, CA
11/8/2011
If you love having the smell of garlic oozing from your pores, this should be your new home! Who wouldn't love a heavy dose of garlic and olive oil served with bread that resembles an airier, fluffier, softer version of pizza crust? Pastas are your typical workhorses, the sauces are solid but unremarkable. Great place to call ahead and pickup some takeout, as the restaurant is small and at peak times you will have to wait for a table. The parking lot is also pretty small, so finding a spot can also be a challenge.
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Review from Nano N.
Valley Glen, CA
1/7/2012
If you are expecting to eat pasta from a box and sauce from a jar, this is the place to go. I don't know why they called "trattoria" (means factory of pasta) if you can tell that the pasta is not homemade. The price is good, very cheap, and big portions.
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Review from Heather F.
Austin, TX
2/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hole in the wall Italian place but worth a visit.
Everything is cooked up fresh here so you don't have to worry about the pre-packaged taste. Their bread and oil with garlic is pretty tasty and so is the rest of their entrees. Salads are very popular here. The noodles are not fresh Italian noodles or anything so don't be expecting authentic stuff there because it just isn't quite that. The actual restaurant is small being in a small strip shopping center next to a 7 Eleven so parking can be a problem.
Check their hours before going because certain days of the week they close during certain times of the afternoon.
PS: Portion are HUGE so you can get more than one meal out of your dish. Yea! -
Review from Jeannie J.
Hawthorne, CA
5/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I agree with John A., I was tricked into coming here too by the 4 star average! The only reason for the 2 stars was the service. Everyone was polite and nice.
The bread was chewy and warm, but garlic in the olive oil was quite pungent. Could have been toned down. But whatever, it was free.
The spaghetti and meatballs was terribly disappointing. The noodles were mushy and overcooked. Meatballs were eh. The sauce had this off-taste, it was kind of sweet. Maybe Alejo's serves fare from a diff region of Italy that I'm not used to?
My linguine pescatore was luckily not overcooked, but really tasted like something I could throw together at home with frozen seafood, a bottle of sauce, and dried noodles.
Also, when my husband and I came home, we were incredibly thirsty and parched all night. MSG in Italian food? I hope not...but I won't be back to find out otherwise. I've had better Italian food at other joints. Too bad, I really wanted to like this place! -
Review from Nobutaka A.
Santa Monica, CA
6/22/2011
While I don't blame Yelp for misleading me here since I was brought here against my own accord, it puzzles me how this restaurant can earn more than two stars. But let's get into my actual experience.
We walked into a fairly packed restaurant on Father's Day. However we were seated right away and a waiter came by within a few minutes to take our drink orders and drop off some menus.
The menu itself touches bases with many of the dishes you'd expect at a standard italian restaurant and it's quite respectable that they serve a traditional gnocchi when most restaurants are sticking to breadsticks, salad and spaghetti. We ordered the shrimp linguini. meat sauce spaghetti, margherita pizza and ravioli. Out of the four dishes that we ordered, the shrimp linguini was the only respectable dishes. Everything else had way too much salt and lacked the finesse of a restaurant that charges $20 a plate.
At first I thought I was being too picky but upon consult from my fellow diners, we reached the same conclusion that this restaurant was just awful. Just absolutely awful.
If you can go to any other italian restaurant then I beg you to do so because any yelpers give this place more than a two star rating is seriously endangering their reputation as a reviewer. -
Review from Heather H.
Manhattan Beach, CA
4/6/2011
I love Alejo's so much. Portions are big, prices are reasonable and the service is fantastic.
Best tip ever - empty some cheese on your plate and add pepper, then dip your bread in garlic deliciousness first and then your cheese plate second. YUM!
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